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E60 / E61 (2004 - 2010) BMW 5-Series E60 Sedan was first seen in the Unites States in the fall of 2003 with a 2004 Model Year designation. The E61 wagon followed shortly there after. The E60/E61 5 series is now available as a 528i, 528xi, 535i, 535xi, 550i and a 535xi sports wagon! -- View the E60 Wiki

I am ordering a 550i in the next few weeks. I love an M5 color "Indianapolis Red Metallic". Unfortunately, it is not listed on the E60 colors (nor is any red). Any way to get it? Special order, throw $$$ at the dealer, anything?

Intro: First time poster, long time lurker. Bought my first BMW in 1986, a 325es. Since then have owned a 325i, 525i, 540i, another 540i. My current car is a 2003 E39 540i, the special sports edition they made that last year of the E39 (with the M spoiler, etc). I then Dinan'ed it, and now it is the sweetest driving BMW I have ever had. BUT . . . my four years are coming up, and it's time for something new. So the 550i has caught my eye (what else? ). I've pretty much spec'ed out what I want, the color is one of my few decisions left.

My last three cars have been sterling gray, titanium silver, and something-champagne-ish. Typical 5 colors. Time for something new! That Indy Red is my first choice, if not avail, prolly the dark blue.

Ok, enough rambling . . .

Stuart in Houston

PS: Great forum. I have read it for years, and feel like I know many of you, even though I have never posted. Thanks for a great community!

The short answer is yes, but it'll cost you $2000-2500. Ask your dealer to 'special order' the color you want and if they refuse, find another dealer who will. There are also other 'special options' that are available for a 'special' price that many dealers aren't aware of, like comfort glass, comfort seats, ventilated seats, etc. The only time where dealers can't special order is when a model is near its end of production life (i.e current X5s). Many folks who do get custom colors, usually get ///M colors. Good luck.

I am ordering a 550i in the next few weeks. I love an M5 color "Indianapolis Red Metallic". Unfortunately, it is not listed on the E60 colors (nor is any red). Any way to get it? Special order, throw $$$ at the dealer, anything?

If the color you want is in use at the factory that is building your car, it should be orderable as long as your dealer and BMWNA are willing. If no other models at that factory use the color, then it is a *lot* harder.

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Stuart, like yourself I had a Sterling/Black 2003 540i SP, and replaced it with a 550i SP. Before you order, you should make note of a couple things that you may miss (as I do).

First, the sport seats in the E39 were just about perfect - the 550's have a LOT less side bolstering. They make spirited driving / cornering much less fun. Take another test drive and see what you think.

Second, the 550's suspension with ARS, etc. is amazing, but the car doesn't have the same supple feel as the 540 SP. Also, the steering is MUCH less communicative. Some of that may be due to my missing the beautiful M sport steering wheel on the '03, and some may be due to the run flats, but it is just not the same. Even though it's RP, I don't feel as connected to the road as I did with the 540's RB.

There is a lot I love about the 550 - the toys are great, and you will not miss the E39's door seals! - but I think you will find its charachter much different from what you are used to (especially since you Dinan'ed your 540).

I wish someone had pointed these things out to me, since I spent my first week in the 550 missing my 540. It's all good now, but take another test drive (or five!) and make sure you are okay with the change in personality.

First, the sport seats in the E39 were just about perfect - the 550's have a LOT less side bolstering. They make spirited driving / cornering much less fun. Take another test drive and see what you think.

I hated the E39 sport seats--very uncomfortable; I have comfort seats in my E39. The comfort seats in the new E60s are awesome and actually include adjustable side bolsters which I found very cool and a step better than the E39 comforts. I believe seats are quite subjective here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by quackbury

Second, the 550's suspension with ARS, etc. is amazing, but the car doesn't have the same supple feel as the 540 SP. Also, the steering is MUCH less communicative. Some of that may be due to my missing the beautiful M sport steering wheel on the '03, and some may be due to the run flats, but it is just not the same. Even though it's RP, I don't feel as connected to the road as I did with the 540's RB.

The new E60s road feel is leaps and bound beyond anything the E39 can deliver. Even if you hate the Bangle design, there is little denying, IMO, the "advanced" feel and stability/road feel of the E60 compared to the E39. I found it amazing that BMW could improve upon the E39.

Quote:

Originally Posted by quackbury

There is a lot I love about the 550 - the toys are great, and you will not miss the E39's door seals! - but I think you will find its charachter much different from what you are used to (especially since you Dinan'ed your 540).

First, the sport seats in my 2006 550 do NOT have adjustable side bolsters. The 2007's do, as the sport seats have been replaced with comfort seats. So I'm right on the '06's, and you may be right on the '07's.

Second, while I agree that the 2001 530 sport package was merely "nice", the M Sport package on the 2004 540's (which Stuart and I both had) was sublime. My 550 is a step backward in feel - blame it on the RFT's, blame it on the thinner (2006) steering wheel, blame it on the less-bolstered seats, but it's not as steerable with the throttle and not as much fun to hustle through the twisties.

First, the sport seats in my 2006 550 do NOT have adjustable side bolsters. The 2007's do, as the sport seats have been replaced with comfort seats. So I'm right on the '06's, and you may be right on the '07's.

Notice I talked about the comfort seats in the E60 (and I didn't speak specificially about any model nor year) having adjustable side bolsters. My '05 545i with comforts had the adjustable side bolsters as I believe all E60s with comforts do.

Quote:

Originally Posted by quackbury

Second, while I agree that the 2001 530 sport package was merely "nice", the M Sport package on the 2004 540's (which Stuart and I both had) was sublime. My 550 is a step backward in feel - blame it on the RFT's, blame it on the thinner (2006) steering wheel, blame it on the less-bolstered seats, but it's not as steerable with the throttle and not as much fun to hustle through the twisties.

The short answer is yes, but it'll cost you $2000-2500. Ask your dealer to 'special order' the color you want and if they refuse, find another dealer who will. There are also other 'special options' that are available for a 'special' price that many dealers aren't aware of, like comfort glass, comfort seats, ventilated seats, etc. The only time where dealers can't special order is when a model is near its end of production life (i.e current X5s). Many folks who do get custom colors, usually get ///M colors. Good luck.

Not sure where you get your info from but the answer is "No" you can't get custom colors on the E60. Yes, you can on the X5 for $2500. If a customer is willing to pay $2500 for the paint then it would be ridiculous to turn down the order.

We currently have an 07 550i in transit that was ordered in Kalahari Beige special paint. It was not cheap however - somewhere around $6700-6800 cdn (at cost!) + 400 special order charge based on older exchange rates.........

Not sure about M colours, but there is also an Individual palette for E60.....

I am ordering a 550i in the next few weeks. I love an M5 color "Indianapolis Red Metallic". Unfortunately, it is not listed on the E60 colors (nor is any red). Any way to get it? Special order, throw $$$ at the dealer, anything?

I don't think so. You can custom order a color as long as its not an M color directly from factory (i believe you work hard enough and your dealer are willing to bend backward for you- you may be able to get individual program color as well).

X5 is different so are X3 since there are no M version available.

On the other hand you can order M in any color that is offered in regular E60.

Your best shot would be to find a dealer that will special order the car for you and push BMWNA to accept the order. But as long as there is a m-version of the car you are ordering, I don't think you will be able to order the M-color.

For E60 i think you can get Carbon Black (which is not an M-color this time around, but was exclusive to M) through individual. If you push your dealer hard enough, this color is worth getting.

I don't think so. You can custom order a color as long as its not an M color

For E60 i think you can get Carbon Black (which is not an M-color this time around, but was exclusive to M) through individual. If you push your dealer hard enough, this color is worth getting.

Hmm, hadn't thought about an M color being limited to M's. Makes sense though. Exclusivity and all . . .

Not familiar with Carbon Black. How is it different from the other blacks?

As quackbury points out, the last year E39 M-sport package was unique. I've had sports packages in my last four BMWs, and am very familiar with them. Including the 540 I bought just two years before the 2003 one (someone made me an offer I couldn't refuse ). That M-sport was (is) incredible. The absolutest (sic!) sweetest driving 3800 lb car you will ever drive. The Dinan upgrades didn't hurt either!

I do need to test drive it and decide on AS. I usually load 'em up, so I'll order most other options.